864 agencies indexed·Latest entry: 28 August 2026
Home/Services/Media Buying
Service · 26 agencies

Media Buying agencies.

Media Buying is the discipline of planning and purchasing paid media across channels (TV, OOH, print, radio, cinema, digital, programmatic, retail media) on behalf of an advertiser. It is distinct from PPC (search), Paid Social (Meta/TikTok/LinkedIn), and Programmatic (DSP-led automated buying), all of which usually sit inside a fuller media plan rather than alongside it.

At a glance
  • 26 UK agencies offering media buying
  • Across 8 UK locations
  • Reviewed 17 May 2026
Showing 25-26 of 26 media buying agenciesView in full archive
Essence Global logo
Essence Global
Network·London·501-1000 Employees

Essence Global, a London-based agency, provides data-informed, digital-centric media solutions. Recognised for its proficiency in leveraging analytics and technology, the agency excels in crafting bespoke advertising strategies across diverse platforms. Essence Global aids brands in enhancing their media investment for optimal efficiency and significant impact. Serving a broad spectrum of sectors,

CreativeMedia BuyingSEO·AutomotiveFinanceFMCG+6 more industries
View profile →
Jellyfish logo
Jellyfish
Network·London·1000+ Employees

Jellyfish is an integrated global digital marketing business founded in 2005 and headquartered at The Shard in London. Since June 2023 it has been part of The Brandtech Group, uniting media, creative and data through technology and generative AI.

SEOPPCDigital StrategyCreativeContent Marketing+8 more services·Media & EntertainmentFashion & RetailFMCG+1 more industries
View profile →
Page 2 of 2
Editor's note
Media Buying is a small specialist category in the UK index. Only 17 of the 818 agencies on AgencyIndex lead with it, because the discipline as traditionally defined (cross-channel planning and buying across TV, OOH, radio, print, and digital) is mostly the territory of the big-six holding-group networks and a smaller cohort of independent media shops. Most general digital agencies bundle media buying inside their PPC, paid social, or programmatic offerings rather than calling it out. A dedicated media buying agency owns the full plan: which channels carry which roles, how much sits in linear TV versus CTV versus paid social, what the negotiated rates look like, and how performance reads across the lot. Independents typically charge a flat retainer or a hybrid of retainer plus a small percentage of spend. Holding-group networks (GroupM, Publicis Media, OMG, IPG Mediabrands, dentsu, Havas Media) layer in trading desk fees, technology fees, and consultancy work on top. The sector is more opaque than most marketing disciplines. ISBA, the IPA, and the World Federation of Advertisers have spent the decade since the 2016 ANA/K2 Intelligence transparency report pushing for clearer contracts, disclosed rebates, and audit rights. In 2026 the live agenda is ISBA Origin (cross-media measurement now in expanded availability), principal-based trading disclosure, and retail media converging into the wider plan.
Typical cost
£5,000-100,000+/mo
retainer, or 5-20% of media spend

Independent media agencies: SME cross-channel £2,000-7,500/mo · mid-market £7,500-20,000/mo · larger accounts £15,000-30,000+/mo. Holding-group networks: meaningful retained support £10,000-30,000+/mo · multi-channel enterprise £25,000-100,000+/mo. Commission models: typically 5-15% of spend on larger or execution-led accounts, 10-20% on smaller accounts. Hybrid (base retainer plus % above a threshold) is now the most common 2026 model. Trading desk / execution-only fees usually layered on top.

Realistic timeline
4-12 weeks
brief to launch, then always-on

1-3wk brief, audience and KPI definition, initial channel hypothesis · 1-2wk plan refinement and stakeholder approval · 1-3wk trading and setup (IOs, programmatic builds, tracking, creative trafficking) · launch within days of final sign-off. First pacing read 1-2 weeks post-launch, first formal optimisation report 2-4 weeks in. Always-on cadence: daily delivery checks, weekly optimisation, monthly business review, quarterly planning reset. Complex enterprise or multi-channel launches run 8-12+ weeks.

Red flags
7 to watch
in any pitch
  • · Will not state in writing whether the agency acts as agent or principal on each channel, or refuses to disclose principal-trading margin
  • · No AVB / rebate / vendor incentive clause in the contract, or wording that lets the agency retain undisclosed media-owner rebates
  • · No audit rights for the advertiser, including no access to invoices, supply-path data, or holding-company-level rebate records
  • · Digital supply chain (DSP, SSP, data, verification, trading desk fees) not separated from media cost in reporting
  • · Reluctant to commit to ISBA Framework Agreement principles or IPA contract recommendations as a baseline
  • · Pure percentage-of-spend pricing with no flat-fee or hybrid option, and no commitment to outcome metrics alongside delivery
  • · Trading desk or proprietary inventory recommended as default without an independent benchmark
Media Buying across the UK

Media Buying agencies by city.

All UK locations
Media Buying agencies in London17Media Buying agencies in Brighton2Media Buying agencies in Cheshire2Media Buying agencies in Birmingham1Media Buying agencies in Cardiff1Media Buying agencies in Manchester1Media Buying agencies in Reading1Media Buying agencies in Stoke-on-Trent1
Media Buying by sector

Media Buying agencies for specific industries.

All industries
Media Buying agencies for Finance15Media Buying agencies for Media & Entertainment15Media Buying agencies for FMCG14Media Buying agencies for Travel & Tourism14Media Buying agencies for Automotive12Media Buying agencies for IT & Technology12Media Buying agencies for Fashion & Retail11Media Buying agencies for Food & Beverage11Media Buying agencies for Healthcare10Media Buying agencies for Telecommunications9Media Buying agencies for Beauty & Cosmetics8Media Buying agencies for Non-Profit Organisation8
Frequently asked

What brands ask about media buying agencies.

5 questions our editors get most often, answered honestly. No agency-marketing speak.

Curated by humans

Pricing splits by agency type. Independent media agencies typically charge £2,000-7,500 a month for SME cross-channel work, £7,500-20,000 for mid-market, and £15,000-30,000+ for larger accounts. Big-six holding-group networks (GroupM, Publicis Media, OMG, IPG Mediabrands, dentsu, Havas Media) start at £10,000-30,000 a month for retained support, with multi-channel enterprise mandates at £25,000-100,000+. Commission models run 5-15% of spend on larger accounts and 10-20% on smaller ones. Hybrid retainers (base fee plus % above a threshold) are now the most common 2026 model.

Other popular services
Web Design510SEO507Digital Strategy491Web Development461PPC415Content Marketing386Branding382All services